Thursday, February 22, 2007
The Pnahandle of FL
Feb 22...Thu - Woke to a very sunny no wind day! We are headed into Pensacola today to the Blue Angel Navy RV Park. Dixie’s cousin’s was Navy and his wife is checking us in. Tomorrow we will be getting on a 630a flight that will take us to Houston and then to Raleigh, NC. Since we didn’t bet to go to visit the kids/grandkids last weekend we will try this weekend. We also found out earlier in the week that Brandon is being promoted to ‘Major’ on Friday afternoon. If all goes well with flights we will arrive just in time for the ceremony. We return to PNS on Monday.
Feb 21...Wed - A rainy cool day so did laundry in the a.m. The afternoon spent reading and listening to the rain on the roof. Sure hope the slide-out seals aren’t leaking like they once did. National RV said they fixed the problem when we had it in their shop recently.
Feb 20...Tue - The weather was partly cloudy with temps in the low 60’s. We decided to drive the twenty something miles to the Gulf and visit Sandestin and Destin. We then drove to Seaside where we got out and strolled the white sandy beaches. Never seen sand this white and very fine in texture. We then walked around in town and visited the obligatory gift shops and one-of-a-kind stores. We hadn’t been to a Sonic burger drive-in in a while so we had lunch there.
Feb 19...Mon - A sunny day so got the bikes down off the rack and took a little ride around the park. Dixie was testing her knee after the surgery a couple of weeks ago. It held up ok but still has a lot of fluid on it making it hard to bend.
Feb 18... Sun - Had an uneventful tho long 350 mile travel day to our new destination of DeFuniak Springs, FL and the Sunset King Lake Resort. It’s a nice park located on a lake in the countryside about 10 miles from the town. We’ll be at this location until Thursday.
Feb 21...Wed - A rainy cool day so did laundry in the a.m. The afternoon spent reading and listening to the rain on the roof. Sure hope the slide-out seals aren’t leaking like they once did. National RV said they fixed the problem when we had it in their shop recently.
Feb 20...Tue - The weather was partly cloudy with temps in the low 60’s. We decided to drive the twenty something miles to the Gulf and visit Sandestin and Destin. We then drove to Seaside where we got out and strolled the white sandy beaches. Never seen sand this white and very fine in texture. We then walked around in town and visited the obligatory gift shops and one-of-a-kind stores. We hadn’t been to a Sonic burger drive-in in a while so we had lunch there.
Feb 19...Mon - A sunny day so got the bikes down off the rack and took a little ride around the park. Dixie was testing her knee after the surgery a couple of weeks ago. It held up ok but still has a lot of fluid on it making it hard to bend.
Feb 18... Sun - Had an uneventful tho long 350 mile travel day to our new destination of DeFuniak Springs, FL and the Sunset King Lake Resort. It’s a nice park located on a lake in the countryside about 10 miles from the town. We’ll be at this location until Thursday.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
The last of Central Florida!
Feb 17 - …Sat - The camper next door started his generator at 11pm last night and ran it until 3am so we didn’t get a lot of sleep! It was 30 degrees when we got up this morning. We went to Bushnell and had breakfast at The Waffle House and then stopped at the library to do some computer work. It's supposed to be sunny today so we will get the motorhome ready for our 350 mile trip tomorrow to DeFuniak Springs which is about 70 miles east of Pensacola.
Feb 16 - Fri - Quiet day.... We drove into Bushnell and went to Walmart. It suppose to freeze tonight, but since we had no hook-ups we didn't have to do much to prepare!
Feb 15 …Thurs - This was to be our travel day to Fayetteville to visit Brandon and family, however plans changed. Katherine and Bailey were home sick with colds and or the flu so Brandon thought it best we not come this weekend. Since the mh was to be in storage we had to find a place to park - we decided to check out an Escapees park that was about 20 miles to our south. We arrived at the Sumter Oaks park around noon and had to park in the “dry” camping area. This was ok since we’re only going to be here three days before we continue north to the PNS area.
Feb 14 …Wed - Today we drove the 75 miles into Brandon, FL for Dixie’s follow-up visit with the Dr. who did her knee surgery ten days ago. Later, we treated ourselves to a Valentines dinner at the Italian restaurant Bacu di beppo. The food is authentic Italian and one of the best we’ve ever experienced. Our antipasti was garlic bread w/mozzarella. Our insalate (salad) was apple gorgonzola and our main course was Lasagna with nine layers of meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and romano cheese.
Feb 13 …Tue - Spent the day getting prepared for our trip to Fayetteville to visit Brandon, Kat and the boys. Dixie spent many hours on the computer checking on flight times and passenger loads.
Feb 12 … Mon - From this park near Wildwood we drove about 10 miles to the community of The Villages. We had seen their TV ads many times and only last week some homes were damaged by the tornadoes that touched down in the area. It is just a few miles west of Lady Lake where there was much damage.
Feb 16 - Fri - Quiet day.... We drove into Bushnell and went to Walmart. It suppose to freeze tonight, but since we had no hook-ups we didn't have to do much to prepare!
Feb 15 …Thurs - This was to be our travel day to Fayetteville to visit Brandon and family, however plans changed. Katherine and Bailey were home sick with colds and or the flu so Brandon thought it best we not come this weekend. Since the mh was to be in storage we had to find a place to park - we decided to check out an Escapees park that was about 20 miles to our south. We arrived at the Sumter Oaks park around noon and had to park in the “dry” camping area. This was ok since we’re only going to be here three days before we continue north to the PNS area.
Feb 14 …Wed - Today we drove the 75 miles into Brandon, FL for Dixie’s follow-up visit with the Dr. who did her knee surgery ten days ago. Later, we treated ourselves to a Valentines dinner at the Italian restaurant Bacu di beppo. The food is authentic Italian and one of the best we’ve ever experienced. Our antipasti was garlic bread w/mozzarella. Our insalate (salad) was apple gorgonzola and our main course was Lasagna with nine layers of meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and romano cheese.
Feb 13 …Tue - Spent the day getting prepared for our trip to Fayetteville to visit Brandon, Kat and the boys. Dixie spent many hours on the computer checking on flight times and passenger loads.
Feb 12 … Mon - From this park near Wildwood we drove about 10 miles to the community of The Villages. We had seen their TV ads many times and only last week some homes were damaged by the tornadoes that touched down in the area. It is just a few miles west of Lady Lake where there was much damage.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
The last of Port Richey & the FMCA Rally
Feb 11 … Sun - There is a mass exodus of motorhomes leaving the airport runway the morning! We are hanging around as we are having our motorhome weighed at 1145a in a different area of the airport. We are able to have it weighed by tire instead of just by axle. After that we head up the road about 40 miles to the town of Wildwood. The park is located about 10 miles from one of the areas hard hit by the tornadoes in central FL. We will remain there until Thursday.
Feb 10 … Sat - Dixie is walking without the aid of crutches or cane today! Not moving fast as the knee doesn’t bend to well yet, but getting along fine. With the FMCA rally winding down, we attended one last seminar this morning. It was presented by one of the tour company’s who take tours to Alaska. It was very informative. Later Saturday evening, we went to the last evening of entertainment. The musical group was The New Odyssey from Chicago. They were fantastic to say the least. What the three of them do is hard to explain but they have been described as an act that is versatile, funny, novel, talented, polished family-oriented and awesome in presentation. Outstanding arrangements of almost every style are performed on 30 different musical instruments.
Feb 9 … Fri - First thing this morning is to go see the RV Medic in hopes someone can come fix the water leak. Mike was able to locate a repair service who came to the motorhome to look at our water leak issue. He was able to repair it in about an hour. Yea!! We can shower now. We attended a seminar presented by a rep from Caterpillar. It was quite informative. Dixie went to one earlier where she learned all about rv tires. Later, back at the ranch, we sat outside and watched a beautiful sunset. Couldn’t stay out too long because after the sun goes down it gets cool. We’ve had nothing but daytime temps in the lower 70’s with lots of sun and nights in the mid-40’s.
Feb 8 … Thur - Back to the rally to go to several seminars. I attended one on the Onan generator and diesel engines while Dixie attended one about the benefits of the FMCA organization. Later we both went to a seminar on financial matters concerning retirees and another on the details of traveling to Alaska and Mexico. Back at the motorhome, we discovered a water leak on a connection on the back of the hot water heater.
Feb 7 … Wed - We drove the short distance to Brooksville and the FMCA rally. They parked us down one of the runways (active runways but unused during the rally) at the Hernando county airport. We were told they were expecting about 2,000 motorhomes at this rally. We caught a tram into the main vendor area and walked around a bit. Since Dixie is on crutches due to her knee surgery on Monday, we rode the handicap golf cart on several occasions. We attended a couple of seminars.
Feb 6 … Tue - Prep day for the drive tomorrow to Brooksville and the FMCA rally. It’s only a drive of just over 20 miles so we won’t have to leave this park until about 11:00. Checked the oil in the generator because we’ll be dry camping for four nights at the rally and will use it quite a bit. Will leave here tomorrow with holding tanks empty and the fresh water tank full.
Feb 5 … Mon - Up very early this morning and on the road before daylight. The destination is the South Bay Hospital near Tampa for Dixie’s knee surgery. The surgery went well and we were on the road back home by 2:30. The bandages stay on until Thursday. They also provided crutches and a cold therapy unit. Pain was not too bad!
Feb 10 … Sat - Dixie is walking without the aid of crutches or cane today! Not moving fast as the knee doesn’t bend to well yet, but getting along fine. With the FMCA rally winding down, we attended one last seminar this morning. It was presented by one of the tour company’s who take tours to Alaska. It was very informative. Later Saturday evening, we went to the last evening of entertainment. The musical group was The New Odyssey from Chicago. They were fantastic to say the least. What the three of them do is hard to explain but they have been described as an act that is versatile, funny, novel, talented, polished family-oriented and awesome in presentation. Outstanding arrangements of almost every style are performed on 30 different musical instruments.
Feb 9 … Fri - First thing this morning is to go see the RV Medic in hopes someone can come fix the water leak. Mike was able to locate a repair service who came to the motorhome to look at our water leak issue. He was able to repair it in about an hour. Yea!! We can shower now. We attended a seminar presented by a rep from Caterpillar. It was quite informative. Dixie went to one earlier where she learned all about rv tires. Later, back at the ranch, we sat outside and watched a beautiful sunset. Couldn’t stay out too long because after the sun goes down it gets cool. We’ve had nothing but daytime temps in the lower 70’s with lots of sun and nights in the mid-40’s.
Feb 8 … Thur - Back to the rally to go to several seminars. I attended one on the Onan generator and diesel engines while Dixie attended one about the benefits of the FMCA organization. Later we both went to a seminar on financial matters concerning retirees and another on the details of traveling to Alaska and Mexico. Back at the motorhome, we discovered a water leak on a connection on the back of the hot water heater.
Feb 7 … Wed - We drove the short distance to Brooksville and the FMCA rally. They parked us down one of the runways (active runways but unused during the rally) at the Hernando county airport. We were told they were expecting about 2,000 motorhomes at this rally. We caught a tram into the main vendor area and walked around a bit. Since Dixie is on crutches due to her knee surgery on Monday, we rode the handicap golf cart on several occasions. We attended a couple of seminars.
Feb 6 … Tue - Prep day for the drive tomorrow to Brooksville and the FMCA rally. It’s only a drive of just over 20 miles so we won’t have to leave this park until about 11:00. Checked the oil in the generator because we’ll be dry camping for four nights at the rally and will use it quite a bit. Will leave here tomorrow with holding tanks empty and the fresh water tank full.
Feb 5 … Mon - Up very early this morning and on the road before daylight. The destination is the South Bay Hospital near Tampa for Dixie’s knee surgery. The surgery went well and we were on the road back home by 2:30. The bandages stay on until Thursday. They also provided crutches and a cold therapy unit. Pain was not too bad!
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Port Richey, FL (north of Tampa)
Feb 4 … Sun - Sunny day today and a bit warmer! Laundry this morning, shopping this afternoon and Superbowl this evening…. Sorry we have no photo's as the weather was too bad when we were at the beach and nothing else to take a photo of.
Feb 3 … Sat - The weather is cool and rainy today so we hung around home all morning. This afternoon we went to the movie 'Flags of our Fathers'. It was good and the cost was only $2.00 pp. The theatre is different in that you can order food including beer and wine and have it delivered to your seat in the theatre (we didn‘t have either). This kind of movie set-up is very unusual and we might go again before we leave the area on Wed.
Feb 2 … Fri - We were awakened at 4:00 a.m. due to a very loud thunderstorm. I got up and logged on to a weather site to take a look. It looked bad for central Florida but not too bad for us here on the West coast north of Tampa. When we turned on the tv later in the morning we learned of the severe damage caused by tornadoes that touched downed in the central parts of the state. We are scheduled to go to a park in Wildwood on the 11th, however that is in the area that tornadoe damage. Guess we will check with them next week and see how they fared. Later, made a stop at a local Radio Shack and purchased a NOAA severe weather alert radio. We had lunch at a local Denny’s because they had free hi-speed internet service. We then went to a local flea market to have a look around.
Feb 1 … Thurs - The morning is a cool blustery kind of a day. About 1:00 we decided to drive about 3 miles to a beach because the weather had warmed up a bit. While it was a nice beach, we couldn’t stay long due to the wind and cloudy skies. By the time we got home it had started raining. Thunderstorms are in the forecast for the evening.
Jan 31 … Wed - Today was another move day. Since we were only going about 45 miles South to Port Richey, we didn’t depart until 1100 hours. The short trip went without incident. The fun began when we got to the Ja-Mar Travel Park. Talk about a tight parking arrangement. I had three guys helping me; two other campers had to move their autos so I would have enough room to maneuver … back-in a 39 ft. coach in a spot designed for a 36 footer. We got it done without too much trouble. One of the guys told me that it took a man an hour to back in his 40 ft. fifth wheel into the same site a couple of weeks earlier. Did our 'familiarization drive' of the area once we got settle. We are only about a mile from the gulf. We found a beach but it was a bit cold to hang around for long.
Jan 30 … Tue - Don’t think it got as cold as predicted, at least in this area. It was 38 degrees already by 8:00.
Jan 29 … Mon - A cold morning … temp about 36 degrees but sunny. High only to get to about 55. Freeze warning for tonight with temps expected to be in the upper 20’s for 6 to 8 hours. We put the water hoses away.
Feb 3 … Sat - The weather is cool and rainy today so we hung around home all morning. This afternoon we went to the movie 'Flags of our Fathers'. It was good and the cost was only $2.00 pp. The theatre is different in that you can order food including beer and wine and have it delivered to your seat in the theatre (we didn‘t have either). This kind of movie set-up is very unusual and we might go again before we leave the area on Wed.
Feb 2 … Fri - We were awakened at 4:00 a.m. due to a very loud thunderstorm. I got up and logged on to a weather site to take a look. It looked bad for central Florida but not too bad for us here on the West coast north of Tampa. When we turned on the tv later in the morning we learned of the severe damage caused by tornadoes that touched downed in the central parts of the state. We are scheduled to go to a park in Wildwood on the 11th, however that is in the area that tornadoe damage. Guess we will check with them next week and see how they fared. Later, made a stop at a local Radio Shack and purchased a NOAA severe weather alert radio. We had lunch at a local Denny’s because they had free hi-speed internet service. We then went to a local flea market to have a look around.
Feb 1 … Thurs - The morning is a cool blustery kind of a day. About 1:00 we decided to drive about 3 miles to a beach because the weather had warmed up a bit. While it was a nice beach, we couldn’t stay long due to the wind and cloudy skies. By the time we got home it had started raining. Thunderstorms are in the forecast for the evening.
Jan 31 … Wed - Today was another move day. Since we were only going about 45 miles South to Port Richey, we didn’t depart until 1100 hours. The short trip went without incident. The fun began when we got to the Ja-Mar Travel Park. Talk about a tight parking arrangement. I had three guys helping me; two other campers had to move their autos so I would have enough room to maneuver … back-in a 39 ft. coach in a spot designed for a 36 footer. We got it done without too much trouble. One of the guys told me that it took a man an hour to back in his 40 ft. fifth wheel into the same site a couple of weeks earlier. Did our 'familiarization drive' of the area once we got settle. We are only about a mile from the gulf. We found a beach but it was a bit cold to hang around for long.
Jan 30 … Tue - Don’t think it got as cold as predicted, at least in this area. It was 38 degrees already by 8:00.
Jan 29 … Mon - A cold morning … temp about 36 degrees but sunny. High only to get to about 55. Freeze warning for tonight with temps expected to be in the upper 20’s for 6 to 8 hours. We put the water hoses away.
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